Positive destinations for Scottish university graduates

More graduates from Scottish universities are going on to positive destinations.

Published:10:46Thursday 30 June 2016

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The number of graduates from Scottish universities going into work or further study has increased and is among the highest in the UK, new figures published today show.

The latest statistics on destinations of leavers from higher education institutions (HEIs) in 2014-15 show:

• 91 per cent of graduates from Scottish HEIs went into either employment, further study or a combination of the two;

• 72 per cent of full-time first degree graduates from Scottish HEIs who were employed in the UK were in posts classified as professional occupations, the highest for all UK countries;

• The median salary for first degree graduates from Scottish HEIs who went into full time employment in the UK was £22,000, the highest median salary for all UK countries.

Shirley-Anne Somerville, Minister for Further and Higher Education, said: “Today’s figures are testament to the quality and success of our world class universities and the students who attend them.

“I would like to congratulate all of the recent graduates for their hard work and achievements which has allowed them to go into employment or further study.

“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting Scotland’s higher education sector and we will continue to invest over £1 billion in our higher education institutions in 2016-17, ensuring all of our institutions can deliver high quality teaching, world class research and knowledge exchange.

“I’m delighted to see that a huge proportion of graduates from Scotland’s higher education institutions are going on to further study or employment and that Scotland has the highest percentage of full-time first degree graduates in UK employment going into professional occupations.

“Graduates are vital to the Scottish economy so it is encouraging that first degree graduates from Scottish institutions are earning the highest median salaries in the UK.”